International Merchandise Officer, 2008-2012
I have been a biker since 1980. I started with a Honda C50 crash gear pizza bike. Within a year, I was riding a Honda 250 Super Dream on L plates (you could back then). I joined WIMA in 1990; I came across them at the BMF Tailend Rally which I attended with the Gaybikers, a mostly male club back then. My first impression was that it was cliquey, but then I met Bev Leale. What a lovely lady; we just hit it off. She introduced me to Liz Allsop, and the gang. And then the adventures began. I think it was in 1994 that WIMA Belgium invited me over to this new biker motorloft called the Groenedijk just outside Ostend. In 1996 I acquired the beast, a Honda 750cc Super Magna, which I still have to this day, and have travelled many a mile, in many a country.
I spent quite a bit of the 90s in Europe at one event or another, making great friends. The Netherlands rally at Heythuysen in 1997 was my first proper WIMA international. Due to a heatwave, everyone camped around the edge of the field. But in the middle was one portaloo and six tents – I just knew that had to be UK and it was, what a great time!
During my time with WIMA I was the GB/UK regalia officer, turning what was a deficit into a profit, so much so that I was offered the post of the first international regalia officer. I designed and produced the 60th anniversary logo as both patch and stickers and delivered them to Bernadette at the 2010 Dutch rally. I planned much more, but due to ill health had to stand down. I was then asked if I could sort an international rally for GB in 2011. A challenge, but with the right team we did it.
The picture is me at the 66th parallel (Arctic Circle) taken by my great friend then Australian president Angela Trevaskis, who flew over to England and borrowed my old BMW Funduro 650. The two of us set off to the Arctic on our way to the Finland rally in 2008 at Saimaa. WIMA has been a great club, but like all clubs, the more you put in the more you get out. I now have friends all over the world.
(2025)
